Songbird
wiped the worst of the soot off of her face so she’d be able to see
again. Just in time to watch the lock disintegrate from the door which
swung open with a soft creak. She timidly walked to the door and
inspected it before stepping out and unfurling her wings. She still
wanted to be quiet, so her victorious chirp was quiet, but certainly
loud enough for the repairman to hear.

But the two of them could
also her her captor was back and had discovered the boards across the
door. Songbird visibly shrunk back at the banging then tried to grab the
repairman’s hand and run; only for her hand to go through his.

“You know, I work hard each and every day, and all I get– hmm?”

The Repairman interrupted his tirade to look at the bird, and finally saw that the lock was gone. He coughed awkwardly.

“Well, there goes my Acme sponsorship,” he muttered, before jumping at the sound of Songbird’s captor banging on the door. Ah, right. They still had to escape.

Plop.

He looked down at the small puddle of ink Songbird accidentally took off when she tried running. He scooped it up somewhat sheepishly and turned to her.

“Where can we go?” the Repairman asked, frantically. He hadn’t looked around the room enough to even see if there was a window. He pointed to the barricaded door. “Tell me that’s not the only exit!”